Australians to spend $3bn over weekend

Australians are expected to spend $3 billion this weekend as they push to get their Christmas shopping all wrapped up.

A woman shops.

(AAP)

Australians are expected to spend more than $3 billion across the country as they rush to get their last-minute Christmas gifts in.

The latest projections from the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA), released on Friday, predict people will spend an average of around $130 each this weekend.

In good news for retailers, almost 90 per cent of the $3 billion expected to be spent over the weekend will be dropped at bricks and mortar stores.

Just over $300 million is predicted to be spent online.

The big spend is a 5.4 per cent increase from the same time last year, ANRA CEO Margy Osmond said.

People in NSW, Victoria and Queensland will be responsible for 75 per cent of the spending surge, with those in the ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania seemingly having had their Christmas shopping wrapped up.

"Santa's retail helpers will be working around the clock this weekend in an effort to ensure all the Santa lists around the country are filled," Ms Osmond said.

Australians will be taking advantage of extended trading hours to finish off their shopping, she said.


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Source: AAP


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